Our Core Virtues

THE BASIC VIRTUES

At Stiles Elementary School, we believe that building character is important. We believe that our school will help students become prepared for life. We emphasize academics and being well informed. In addition, we expect students to develop the capacity to live responsibly and to judge wisely in life and conduct.

We emphasize seven virtue qualities: honesty, respect, responsibility, compassion, self-discipline, perseverance, and giving. As we talk about, define and practice these virtues at school, we also know our Stiles families can use the vocabulary and virtues at home.

Every week we give Wildcat Virtue Awards to students. We read their names on the morning news, take their picture and give them a prize. We share how they were showing a virtue so that students know what it looks like. Families can also give their student(s) Virtue awards at home. Students may bring their slip to school and they will be posted in the cafeteria and then returned to the student.

HONESTY - Each person carries out his or her responsibilities carefully and with integrity, never claiming credit for someone else's work and being willing to acknowledge wrongdoing. Students and staff share their ideas openly, in a climate of trust, with a confidence that what is written and spoken is honestly expressed and that all people are trustworthy.

RESPECT - Each person responds sensitively to the ideas and needs of others without dismissing or degrading them. Differences among people are celebrated and all members of the community are able to accept both praise and constructive suggestions from others. While affirming individual freedom, the rights of the group are also fully honored.

RESPONSIBILITY - Each person has a sense of duty to fulfill willingly the tasks he or she has accepted or has been assigned. All work is conscientiously performed. Members of the community feel comfortable asking for help and agree that they must be held accountable for their behavior.

COMPASSION - Each person is considerate and caring. There is a recognition that everyone, from time to time, feels hurt, confused, or sad. Instead of ignoring such conditions, people reach out to one another. In the case of conflict, members of the community seek reconciliation and try to understand each other, even forgive.

SELF-DISCIPLINE - Each person agrees to live within limits, not only the ones mutually agreed upon, but, above all, those established personally. Self-discipline is exercised in relationships with others, especially in the way people speak to one another. Self-discipline also applies to the use of time. At the simplest level, self control reflects habits of good living.

PERSEVERANCE - Each person is diligent, with the inner strength and determination to pursue well-defined goals. It does matter that a task be completed once begun, and to persevere not only teaches discipline, but brings rewards as well. Each person pushes hard to complete assignments, and all members of the community willingly support others in their work.

GIVING - Each person discovers that one of life's greatest satisfactions comes from giving to others, and recognizes that talents should be shared, through service. Rather than waiting to be asked, members of the community look for opportunities to contribute positively to the needs of others, without expectation of reward.

Based on the Basic School research of Ernest L. Boyer